I met you in '82, over a crate of beer and not a few I cracked a can and so did you, we're gonna change the world The ghetto kings of downside town – the estates and parks of our hallowed ground Doing anything that we found, and on the river flowed You'd take a drink from the Rev. Jimmy Jones You'd cross the street on the path the gunman roams Thrown aside and left to waste, that was you – you knew your place Wander round, get off your face, and on the river flowed CHORUS: On and on the riverflow – we the undertow On and on the riverflow – we the undertow I don't know how you made it through all the smoke and brew you do It sure has left its mark on you, but you're still with us today Life goes on and round we go and words can kill these things I know Sometimes you cut me deeply so, but on the river flows You'd set the table for the barber Sweeney Todd You'd clip the wings of any rising god But man can't live on hope alone, it can be cut, all that is grown Broke your spirit but not your bones, and on the the river flows CHORUS You're working now – forced to the race I know it left a bitter taste But the rising tide has covered your face Nothing you can do But I still remember the day you said That river flowing through my head Would take me far or leave me dead And all you said was true